Get up from a dream
And I look for rain
Take an amphetamine
And a crushed rat's brain

How am I feelin'
Better I suppose
How am I lookin'
I don't want the truth

What am I doin'
I ain't in my youth
I'm past my prime
Or was that just a pose

It a wonderful lie
And I still get by on those

I've been accused of never opening up
You get too close
Then I keep my mouth shut
I'm gonna run to the wind

Where the big bad city blows
It a wonderful lie
And I still get by on those
It a wonderful lie
And I still get by on those

You can dress to the eights
You can dress to maim
It'll make you feel great
This fortune and fame

Wearing too much makeup
Not near enough clothes
It a wonderful lie
And I still get by on those
It a wonderful lie
And I still get by on those

So don't pin your hopes
Or pin your dreams
To misanthropes or guys like me
The truth is overrated

I suppose
It a wonderful lie
And I still get by on those
It a wonderful lie
And I still get by...


Lyrics submitted by ih8music

It's a Wonderful Lie Lyrics as written by Paul Westerberg

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management

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It's a Wonderful Lie song meanings
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5 Comments

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  • +3
    General Comment

    Another great Paul Westerberg lyric, seems generally to be about the state of denial that we allow ourselves and others to live in with those little white lies we all love so much. He crams more great lines into one song here than many artists manage in their entire careers "You can dress to the eights, you can dress to maim, it'll make you feel great this fotune and fame, wearing too much make-up and not near enough clothes" and "Don't pin your hopes, pin your dreams, to misanthropes, guys like me" are particularly wonderful.

    Supercooleron August 03, 2009   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    the rat's brain is a reference to lithium, a commonly used anti-depressant. Westerberg has been fairly open about battling depression throughout his career.

    bafflewiton May 14, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    According to Paul's website it's "crushed rat's brain." It's called google. Use it.

    Flinchy17on February 15, 2008   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation

    In this song he really shows how brilliant he is with words! You could take just a random line from the whole song, and it'll still sound like the smartest quote ever written.

    To me this is a song about being depressed. About the heavy days and the glasses you put on, through which you see nothing but how things are or could go wrong - "And I look for rain". It could also be a late insight that he hasn't been good to someone. I'm thinking about an old love he had and lost, due to his manners. They were young. He was handsome, strong and on top of the world... and then suddenly he would break down and couldn't understand why. She couldn't keep up with him. Wanted to understand him, but since he didn't let her in, she thought that the relationship stayed on a level, that was to shallow. She was hurt and she left him. He shook his head, said "Don't pin your hopes, or pin your dreams, to misanthropes or guys like me" and moved on, ignoring the marks she left on him. Now, several years past his prime, she still crosses his mind now and then. Sometimes he'd like to call her up and explain one or two things. He always talks himself out of it. The truth is overrated and he still get by with those white lies he fills himself with. He's becoming to insightful to deny things, he knows that, but he still tries.

    metaforon November 25, 2011   Link
  • -4
    General Comment

    Take an amphetamine and a crushed RIGHT brain...

    cpwkakon May 20, 2006   Link

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